Hostility to our MPs must not be the new normal

It should concern every Australian that an elected member of parliament can be attacked and seriously injured while carrying out their public duties (“MP Haines ‘critical’ after attack at elecorate office”, October 20). Is this the Australia we have become, where political disagreement increasingly gives way to hostility, intimidation and violence? We witness growing thuggery in public life, accompanied by language in parliament that should be unacceptable in any civilised democracy. Liberal MP Angie Bell reportedly suggested that the prime minister and small business minister should be “shamed and stoned in the square” for proposing changes to taxation arrangements benefiting wealthy Australians. Meanwhile, the Liberal leader repeatedly brands the prime minister a liar, apparently with support from the Nationals’ leadership. One Nation, and sometimes the Greens, also contribute divisive rhetoric. When political leaders normalise personal abuse and hostility, should we be surprised when others follow their example? Chris Rivers, Port Macquarie

After the appalling attack on Helen Haines, Angus Taylor released a statement that included the following sentiment: “Our nation cannot become a place where violent attacks are normalised.” Last week, one of his own MPs, Angie Bell stood up in parliament and stated that “Anne Aly and Anthony Albanese should be shamed and stoned in the square”. Angus Taylor’s silence on Bell’s comments was deafening. Jack Amond, Cabarita

As a proud Australian, I am horrified at the attack on Helen Haines. She has the qualities of a politician we wish for: integrity, honesty, intelligence, and works hard for all. Everyone wishes you a speedy recovery. Enough of tantrums with no solutions. One Nation is a non-party of non-policies, non-costings, non-solutions, non-tolerance, non-empathy and non-humour. Aussies love to laugh. Non to non-politics. Bea Hodgson, Gerringong

Given the boundless respect now being shown for Helen Haines by Right and Right Light political parties, you’d think she wouldn’t have had to fight tooth and nail for – and in substance largely been overruled on – the setting up of a properly empowered national anti-corruption body. Which she was instrumental in the battle for. Alex Mattea, Kingston (ACT)

The only valid way for a constituent to act against a politician is at the ballot box. Peter Butler, Wyongah

‘Satire’ sad and dire

It appears that Pauline Hanson does not know the meaning of satire when she regarded the mocking of Jacqui Lambie’s health issue in her “Please Explain” cartoon as “satire” (“Hanson dismisses Lambie’s anger over attack”, October 20). In order for something to be satirical, it needs to expose and ridicule some kind of folly or injustice. Senator Lambie’s health issue, shared by many women, is not, and never can be an object of satire. Pauline Hanson’s attitude just exposes her ignorance and insensitivity. Leo Sorbello, Leichhardt

Surely, it’s time for Ms (I’ll have a whinge about anything and everything) Hanson to show herself to be a genuine Aussie and claim personal ownership and authorship of the demeaning character “put-downs” of respected people’s representatives, or else make known the identities of the faceless employees of her organisation that are orchestrating the offensive campaign of propaganda being issued by her political party. Whoever is the source of these snide put-downs contributes nothing to uphold the ethos of Australian culture. Graham Tooth, Kings Point

There is only one question really. How low are Pauline Hanson and One Nation prepared to go? Do we really want to find out? Christine Ahern, Byron Bay

So the crybaby that leads One Nation thinks Jacqui Lambie should “get over it” when jokes are made about her medical condition. Remember how upset she got when a comedian used the term “Pauline Pantsdown”? Talk about thin-skinned sook, and she wants to lead the country. A bit like not liking a painting of yourself and doing everything to get it removed from display. The right in Australia are so fragile. Philip Dowle, Wickham

Real Greens revealed

Since their “creation”, the Greens have always sanctimoniously claimed they aren’t like the “old parties”, as unlike them, they don’t have factions. If there were ever any doubt as to the fallacy of this claim, it was debunked by the fallout of the aftermath of their recent leadership ballot (“‘Nasty political games’: Steele-John claims rumours were weaponised”, smh.com.au, October 18). To confirm that factions do indeed exist, Senator Steele-John is blaming an “unofficial” faction for undermining him. Surely if there are “unofficial” factions, then there must also be “official” ones too. Ian De Landelles, Murrays Beach

Time to tweak tax

Surely, it’s a no-brainer (Letters, October 20): raise the GST to 15 per cent on luxury items such as boats, cars, jewellery and the like that cost more than $150,000. If you have that sort of money, a bit more won’t be missed. Brian Roach, St Ives

You can’t fight poverty with increasing the regressive Goods and Services Tax, nor just by raising the income tax threshold. The only times in my living memory that poverty was reduced were under Bob Hawke, when pensions and benefits were increased and indexed, and during COVID, when Scott Morrison significantly increased pensions and benefits. We have a community of people solely reliant on pensions and benefits who suffer with every cost-of-living increase. It is beyond acceptable that we fail to address the needs of our most disadvantaged. Jill Napier, Phegans Bay

If the Grattan Institute wants more money in the Australian economy, rather than increasing the GST they should advocate for a 30 per cent gas-export tax, less tax-avoidance loopholes, and a minimum tax payment for the one in four Australian companies not paying tax. Oh, and while they’re at it, get Meta, X, Alphabet and the AI companies to pay their fair share or be turned off. There ... cash shortage fixed. Allan Kreuiter, Roseville

You can do better than that, Ed (“Labor MP wants party to ‘unshackle the economy’” , October 20). Your call to “unshackle the economy” sounds like more of the same only different. What we do need is a complete restructuring of the way we live our lives and the way that people are remunerated for what they do. Rearranging the deckchairs will simply no longer cut it. Greg Baker, Fitzroy Falls

Earning their keep

How uplifting to read readers’ letters today in praise of migrants to this country (Letters, October 20). It makes a nice change to the rhetoric and falsehoods blanketing the airwaves and social media. Regardless of colour and ethnicity, we are all – apart from the Indigenous peoples – “recent” migrants who have contributed to Australia and made it our home. We should feel proud of what we have done and welcome and encourage others to join us. Helen Robinson, Killcare

Minns caved in to mining bullies

The decision by Premier Minns seeking to overturn the decision of the High Court in relation to the Mount Pleasant decision sends a dangerous signal to all corporate bullies (“Heat on Minns over coal approval”, October 20). Just threaten job losses before Christmas and Minns will fold like a cheap suit. This is a failure of moral imagination. If Minns wants to legislate, better to force mining companies to fund retraining and job creation opportunities for sacked miners in an industry near the end of its profitable life. Soon these coal mines will be stranded assets and their owners will walk away with fat bank accounts, leaving crumbs for the miners. Giving in to bullies is never a good idea. Neil Ormerod, Kingsgrove

It would appear that one of the two teams playing the “coal mine approval” game will not accept the result at the final siren, and is planning to change the rules and declare the loser the real winner. I wonder how fans would have accepted this at the NRL and AFL grand finals, if the Roosters and Lions had been denied their rightful premierships. It’s exactly how many of us feel about Mr Minns’ decision to do the same! Ken Enderby, Concord

Wiser council needed

Hunters Hill Liberal councillor Carla Kassab says independent councillor Marc Lane has “let his community down” (“North Shore councillor quits with a warning of snowballing toxicity”, October 20), but it is Cr Lane who has stood with the community while Cr Kassab and the other Liberal majority councillors have let us down. Kassab said the council had undertaken extensive community consultation for the Gladesville shopping centre proposal. Yes, the usual tick-a-box consultation process was undertaken. And the result? The vast majority of the community (82 per cent of 674 submissions) opposed the multiple 19-storey tower development, largely because of the density and height. Only 6 per cent fully supported it. And how did the Liberal councillors respond to this feedback? They ignored it and approved their own proposal with no change in density or height. As to whether the chamber is a hostile environment or not, just watch the videos of council meetings on their website and see for yourself. Nina Ardill, President, Gladesville Residents for Responsible Development

Exam fails the test

I have been teaching the advanced mathematics course to high school students since the 1970s.
One of the first things I learnt as a teacher was that a test should test what you know, not what you don’t know! Over the past few years, I have noticed that the examiners have forgotten this basic rule. Instead of encouraging and rewarding hard-working students who have chosen an abstract course of study, they have slapped them on the wrist! The questions set reward the egos of those setting them. We keep hearing how we should encourage more students to study mathematics. These papers are very discouraging. I love this subject and the brave students who study it and am so sad that numbers will diminish due to the short-sightedness of our examiners. Evie Apfelbaum, Bondi Junction

Maths exams are up (“‘You have to actually think’: How to solve the hardest HSC maths problem”, smh.com.au, October 20). After nearly 50 years, I am still haunted by a stubbornly difficult trajectory question in the extension HSC exam based on the re-entry calculations for Apollo 13. For the 2026 cohort, time makes all the difference and no one but you will care about the exams. No impact on my academic career. On that note, I’m off to watch Hidden Figures. Michael Blissenden, Castle Hill

Not interesting because they were taken into an examination room, but interesting nevertheless: the exam papers my grandmother sent me when I was matriculating (the equivalent of HSC) at the tender age of 16 in 1953. She thought they may be of some use to me! My grandmother was born in 1870 and sat her matriculation exams in 1888. The papers were a wonder to behold – and nothing like their modern equivalent. Phyllis Codd, Bellingen

Sisters an inspiration

I was educated by the nuns of the Sisters of Mercy, North Sydney (Letters, October 20), as were my five sisters. My uncle, Roger Pryke, was a close friend of Ted Kennedy’s and played a role in the establishment of the Aboriginal Medical Service. Roger preceded Ted as Sydney University Catholic chaplain, moved on by the cardinal for including nuns in the philosophy seminars he ran in his church in Camperdown (“not their role”). While I left the church decades ago, I am so proud of the sisters, publicly rebuking the hierarchy in full knowledge of likely retribution. As would be Uncle Roger. Margaret Stewart, Avalon Beach

How exquisitely apt, “Sisters of Mercy” by name – and in deed. Edward Loong, Milsons Point

The comments from the Sisters of Mercy North Sydney inspired me, and reminded me of the immeasurable value that nuns provide to the troubled Catholic Church. I attend church at Lawson where – until recently – there was a small community of older nuns who played a vital role in the
life of the community, including at the local infants’ school. They were intelligent, articulate, compassionate, courageous and pragmatic. I often thought (and still do) that if more nuns held positions of authority within the Catholic Church, it would be in a far better position. Our inspiring small group of Good Samaritans have now retired and moved elsewhere. Our community lost something vital with their departure. Denise Hartman, Leura

Trump a Putin toadie

Donald Trump’s growing resemblance to dictator Vladimir Putin, deftly outlined by Peter Hartcher, is almost uncanny in its accuracy (“TrumPutin rules with iron mirror”, October 20). We already saw him roll out the red carpet for his new bestie, and he has bent over backwards to eagerly ingratiate himself with Putin at every opportunity. What is especially gruelling is his spiteful denigration of Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelensky, mercilessly belittled and undermined from the very beginning, alleging that he does not want peace in his war-torn country invaded by Putin. The longer Trump remains in power, the greater will be the reputational damage to the once-flawed but admired US democracy. Bernard Moylan, Bronte

Donald Trump said of Putin that “I do respect him” and then labelled him a “genius” after Putin invaded Ukraine. Meanwhile, I believe Putin would be echoing Kerry Packer who famously said: “You only get one Alan Bond in your lifetime”. Rowan Godwin, Rozelle

Sky’s the limit

So Elon Musk has invented a “flying car” (“Why Elon Musk’s new Roadster will fly off the shelves”, smh.com.au, October 19) – does he know it’s called an airplane? Linda Page, Baulkham Hills

A perfect blend

My 10-year-old granddaughter, Lulu, loves pink or purple porridge when she stays with me (Letters, smh.com.au, October 19). Strawberry or blueberries in a blender and mixed into the porridge made with milk with a little sugar. I love it too. Give it a go. I’ll think about Brussels sprouts. Victoria Worledge, Newtown

Jiggle giggle

I jiggle the petrol bowser nozzle, the lawnmower funnel, my daily teabag, the farm gate latch, my gumboots and the odd cow’s udder (Letters, smh.com.au, October 19). I’m a natural jiggler. It’s not a class or gender thing – it’s a way of life. Vivien Clark-Ferraino, Duckmaloi

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